Main navigation

MEDITERRANEAN BLACK-EYED PEA BOWLS

Adorable, affordable, nutritional. Guess what else! Delicious, of course. This is a tiny tribute to the black-eyed peas and the Mediterranean black-eyed pea bowls recipe I post today is one of the best ways to enjoy them. Not to mention healthy because it goes without saying that Mediterranean cooking and healthy eating walk together hand in hand.

Black-eyed peas belong to the big legume family and they are staple not only in the Mediterranean cuisine but in many other cuisines all over the world. Their nutritional value is undeniable. They contain approximately 11 grams of protein per cup, a great variety of essential vitamins, minerals antioxidants and digestion-friendly fiber.

They are one of my favorite cooking ingredients. So versatile. I cook a bunch of them and use them as a vegetable stew (like today’s post), as a salad with tons of Mediterranean herbs (like the one in my fridge) or as a delicious spread (like the one I am going to make, hopefully, this afternoon…).

So, off we go to the recipe with a huge question. Dried or canned black-eyed peas? To tell you the truth, and nothing but the truth, I have never (ever) used canned ingredients of any kind. There is (almost) no market for canned products in the Mediterranean area because it is obvious that the consumers prefer fresh food over canned. However, I totally get the convenience of those products and I strongly believe that good quality canned black-eyed peas, for instance, are superior food than processed and prepackaged food, fast food etc. I suppose you share the same opinion. Great! Therefore, instead of picking up the phone and order that greasy, fatty, kind of pizza, you might grab the canned black-eyed peas and make my recipe in no time. Right?

For this recipe, I used dried black-eyed peas which I find in the market and I am pretty sure they aren’t old. How do I know it? If they are old, they take way longer time to cook and sometimes you wait for hours without any success at all. Therefore, choose a place with a high legume turnover or purchase a packaged product of good quality and always remember: the fresher the better!

In a nutshell, we are going to boil the black-eyed peas and then mix them with caramelized veggies in order to get a thick stew with layers of flavor that will enhance and complement each other. Perfection.

More ways to enjoy this black-eyed pea recipe

Use them to top grain bowls with rice and quinoa. It’s a perfect easy-to-make dinner when you have leftovers.

Lightly fork-smashed the peas and use them in sandwiches, crostini, tacos, tostadas, enchiladas and don’t forget to pair them with feta cheese crumbles.

Serve with marinated anchovies, sardines or smoked herring because, according to the Greek culinary tradition, legumes taste even better like this. See for yourself. Don’t forget feta cheese and crusty homemade bread.

The black-eyed pea spread I was telling you about at the beginning? No can do. Too late, too tired. The kitchen is closed until tomorrow. Have a nice day or night!!!

Sort the peas and remove any damaged peas, stones, or debris. Rinse thoroughly.

In a large pot, add the peas and cover with water about 2 inches above them. Bring to a boil and let them cook for 2-3 minutes. Drain carefully and set aside.

Wash the same pot, add the peas and freshly boiled water about 4 inches above them. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-high for 30 minutes. Drain carefully and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large pan with lid heat ¼ olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion until soft for 5 minutes, the garlic for another 2 minutes, the carrots for about 3 minutes and stir in the black-eyed peas for another 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly. Add the tomatoes (or passata) and the bay leaves. Season to taste.

Add some hot water to cover the vegetables and bring to a boil. Cover with lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Taste the peas. They should be tender. If not, let them simmer until cooked. You may add more hot water along the cooking procedure.

When the peas are ready, turn off the heat and add the rest of the oil olive (1/4 cup) and the parsley. Stir, remove from heat and serve.

Reader Interactions

This traditional Greek pasta is an exquisite signature dish of the Mediterranean way of eating: it uses the simplest of ingredients and takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare. It has all you want for a healthy and super delicious meal. It is called “Tsouhti” and it originates from Mani in southern mainland Greece….

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Rate this recipe:

Primary Sidebar

About me

HELLO EVERYONE!!!
Welcome to 30 Days of Greek Food. You are about to discover an exciting way of eating non-processed, super tasteful food, based on the Mediterranean Diet, mostly on the Greek version of it. I will share my passion for the gastronomy, the culinary tradition and the products of that region by proposing a 30 day program. It will be so much easier for you to follow and enjoy the enormous benefits of that healthy lifestyle. Read More…